Meier tapped to lead drug lab ‘boiler room’

Gov. Deval L. Patrick has tapped Boston lawyer David E. Meier to lead the central office established to oversee the review of criminal cases potentially impacted by the recently revealed failures at the Department of Public Health drug lab.

Last week, Patrick proposed the creation of what he called a “boiler room” office to expedite the identification of defendants whose cases involved evidence that may have been mishandled by former chemist Annie Dookhan.

Dookhan’s alleged actions have jeopardized thousands of drug prosecutions across the state.

The office will be responsible for cross-referencing case files with drug sample, docket number and other identifying information held by the DPH, the trial courts, and other state and federal agencies.

A partner at Todd & Weld, Meier previously served as chief of the homicide unit at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.